A couple who installed a CCTV camera because they feel scared in their home have been told by a council to move it - or move out.

Patricia White, 48, and Philip Cuddihy, 36, have accused Brighton and Hove City Council of not allowing them to protect themselves.

The couple, who have lived in Craven Road, Brighton, for five years, decided to take matters into their own hands after the lock-up outside the flats was broken into and parcels addressed to them were stolen.

Last month, they installed a static CCTV camera, which videos the entrance to the flats.

However, last week the couple received an eviction letter from the council telling them to take it down or move out within four weeks.

Mr Cuddihy, chairman of the Craven Vale Community Association (CVCA), said: "The camera was a last resort as we didn't feel the council was protecting us.

"It's a static camera so we can't move it to spy on people.

"We've invited council officers to look at the camera so they can see the very small area it records.

"Some of our neighbours were happy for us to put it up, as it can be a deterrent for crime."

Mrs White said: "The situation has been going on for about two years but the council has done nothing to help us.

"My partner has been assaulted and we regularly have abuse hurled at us. We hoped the CCTV camera would stop it.

"We put it in because we didn't know what else to do.

"We asked the police and our solicitor who said it was legal. Most of the tenants said they were happy with it.

"It points at the entrance because that seems to be where everything happens.

"Last month the council used video evidence from a tenant's CCTV footage in Moulsecoomb to convict a woman whose dog fouled the pavement.

"They didn't have a problem with her security camera, so why stop us?"

A retired decorator, Mr Cuddihy suffers from partial facial paralysis as a result of stress and can no longer work.

Mrs White has had to give up her computer course at City College in Brighton to help look after him.

A council spokeswoman said: "We've had several letters of complaint from residents who feel the camera is violating their privacy.

"We have to take action to protect their rights to privacy. We've said Mr Cuddihy can put a camera up above his doorway in his stairwell.

"He was given four weeks notice to take the camera down."